Focus: Borders is a competition dedicated to medium and feature-length fiction, animated, and hybrid films distinguished by a strong authorial voice and a search for original ways of telling stories about the contemporary world. The diversity of approaches to long-form cinema presented in the selected works proves that film still has much to offer. This year’s competition features 8 titles.

Lesson Learned, dir. Bálint Szimler (Hungary) 2024, 120’, 15+

Ten-year-old Palko, after moving to a small town, tries to find his place in a new school. Shy and sensitive, he quickly clashes with the strict rules and the lack of understanding from both teachers and classmates. His everyday life begins to change when he meets Juci – a young teacher who wants to break the school routine and help students find their own voice. The relationship between them becomes the quiet center of the film – full of empathy and tension, but also hope that even within a system built on fear, there is room for authenticity and compassion.

The film balances between realism and the gentle poetry of everyday life, becoming a quiet manifesto against education based on fear and conformity.

Film awarded at e.g Locarno IFF and Ljubljana IFF.

After the screening, we invite you to join a discussion.